"An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties." Interstate
Publishing Company, 1906. p. 773.
NICHOLAS BESSNER
engaged in farming three miles south of Edison, is one of the most
prosperous agriculturists of that section, a man of energy and application,
popular in the community because of his innate good qualities. He was born in
Mansfield, Ohio, December 17, 1859, the son of John Bessner, who was born in
Germany November 5, 1829, and came to the United States in 1857, settling in the
Buckeye state. In 1860, he (John Bessner) moved to Minnesota, and for the next
fifteen years he farmed there, but on coming to Washington in 1875 he engaged in
mining in what is now Bellingham. After spending two years at that, he moved to
La Conner. He was there a year, then leased the Williamson place, three miles
north, remaining upon it for the next three years. In the spring of 1882 he
bought land on the Skagit delta, which was the scene of his farming operations
until February 12, 1905, when he died. His wife, Mary (Berenger) Bessner, was
likewise a native of Germany, born November 25, 1837. She died in Skagit county
April 4, 1904, the mother of twelve children, of whom the subject hereof is the
oldest.
Nicholas Bessner, of this article, secured his educational training in
Minnesota. Coming west at the age of seventeen, he worked in the mines of
Washington for a time, then found employment in the vicinity of La Conner for
four or five years. In 1885 he moved to Samish flats and for the next four years
was engaged in farming leased land there. He purchased his present fine farm in
1890, and to its cultivation and improvement he has ever since devoted himself
with assiduity and success.
On the 20th of February, 1890, on the Samish flats, Mr. Bessner married
Mrs. Mary Hoffman, daughter of Mathias Hazer, a German by birth and a pioneer
farmer of Iowa, in which state he died. Her mother, Mrs. Marie (Nausbaum) Hazer,
was also a native of Germany, and she, too, sleeps in Iowa. Mrs. Bessner was
born in Jackson County, Iowa, December 29, 1859, and received her education in
that state, remaining until 1883, when she came to Washington. She and Mr.
Bessner have two children, both born in Skagit county: William, born April 27,
1891, and Viola, born June 11, 1894. In fraternal affiliation Mr. Bessner is a
member of the Woodmen of the World; in church membership a Catholic, and
politically a Democrat. He was a member of .the board of county commissioners
for the term 1902-4. Mr. Bessner's home place contains one hundred and forty
acres, all under cultivation, and he also owns sixty acres on the Skagit river.
His chief crops are oats and hay. He takes special pride in his horses, of which
he has thirteen head, four of them thoroughbred animals brought from Portland,
Oregon. Mr. Bessner has made an unqualified success of farming in Skagit county.
The qualities of his mind and heart recommend him to all with whom he comes in
contact, for he is a genial, whole-hearted man and public-spirited citizen.
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in March 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.